some_list = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'b', 'd', 'm', 'n', 'n'] unique = [] duplicates = [] for item in some_list: if item not in unique: unique.append(item) else: duplicates.append(item) print(unique) print(duplicates) ###################### duplicates = [] for item in some_list: if some_list.count(item) > 1 and item not in duplicates: duplicates.append(item) print(duplicates)